Here's a link to a discussion on another board.
I agree that boga grips are not good for fish, and I have not used one in many years.

Experienced anglers should be able to guess the weight of a fish within a pound (or two) and inexperienced anglers can take a quick measurement to determine the weight.

Most of the time I want to know the length of the fish more than the weight. That 20" trout on a dry, or 30" steelhead on the Catt, or 30" bonefish, is more significant to me than the "12 lb" bone or steelhead.

http://www.danblanton.com/viewmessage.php?id=169363

juro

05-26-2012, 05:28 PM

I never use a boga grip, never will - and have argued that they are harmful to fish since day 1.

When I lip a striper it stays in the water so it remains weightless; or if I do lift it out for a photo my other hand goes under it's belly before I lift. I do thumb small schoolies but am sure they are not harmed by it.

A big part of it is the locking of the jaw structure of striped bass by pushing the fingers upward on what would be the chin which has a stabilizing effect, stopping the thrashing of the fish that results when it's lip is pinned mechanically in a bogagrip without said lockage. Having watched many a fish in boga grips, I am repulsed, and am convinced that it's the thrashing of the fish while held by the tip of it's mandible completely out of the water that causes serious injury.

I should clarify that they are a good tool for certain tough-to-unhook toothy species boatside, as long as they are not used to hoist the fish up out of the water putting all of their weight on the jaw.

BigDave

05-30-2012, 08:21 AM

A must have item for bluefish up this way but I only weigh stripers that i intend to kill and eat. Also useful for tying the fish up to the side of the boat to bleed out before hitting the ice.